Monilothrips kempi Moulton.

Mound, Laurence A., Matsunaga, Janis N., Bushe, Brian, Hoddle, Mark S. & Wells, Alice, 2017, Adventive Thysanoptera Species in the Hawaiian Islands: New Records and Putative Host Associations, Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 49, pp. 17-28 : 20

Monilothrips kempi Moulton.

Described from northern India, with one synonym from South Africa, this fernliving Panchaetothripine is also known from California ( Wilson 1975), where it was collected recently in large numbers on the fern Woodwardia fimbriata [ Blechnaceae ]. On Hawaii, at Kipuka Ki, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, it was found breeding on the fronds of the fern Microlepia strigosa [ Dennstaedtiaceae ] in association with a substantial population of the predatory ant-mimic, Franklinothrips vespiformis . There is only one species recognised in the genus Monilothrips , and kempi is a large dark brown species that is distinctive among Panchaetothripinae in lacking reticulate sculpture on the fore femora and much of the head. The posterior third of the head has a strongly reticulate transverse band ( Fig. 3 ), and the meso- and metanota are also reticulate, the forewing bears two complete rows of veinal setae, the sense cones on antennal segments III and IV are long and forked, and antennal segments II–IV are almost yellow.

Figures

Figures 1–5. Thrips new to Hawaii. 1. Leaf-damage on Colocasia esculenta by Biltothrips minutus (photo: S. Chun). 2. Head of Indusiothrips seshadrii. 3. Head and pronotum of Monilothrips kempi. 4. Head and thorax of Trichromothrips priesneri. 5. Forewing of Coremothrips pallidus.